BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

C.S.H.B. 618

By: Corte

Defense & Veterans' Affairs

Committee Report (Substituted)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

Under current law, a vehicle displaying disabled veteran license plates or license plates issued to honor former prisoners of war, Pearl Harbor survivors, and recipients of the Medal of Honor or Purple Heart is exempt from the payment of a parking fee collected through a parking meter charged by a governmental authority other than a branch of the federal government, under certain conditions. However, vehicles displaying plates to honor recipients of the Air Force Cross or Distinguished Service Cross, the Army Distinguished Service Cross, the Navy Cross, the Medal of Honor, or the Legion of Merit medal are not included in this law. 

 

C.S.H.B. 618 includes vehicles displaying "Legion of Valor" or "Legion of Merit" license plates in the exemption from the payment of a parking fee collected through a parking meter charged by a governmental authority other than a branch of the federal government, under certain conditions.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

 

C.S.H.B. 618 amends the Transportation Code to exempt a vehicle with a specialty license plate for recipients of the Air Force Cross or Distinguished Service Cross, the Army Distinguished Service Cross, the Navy Cross, the Medal of Honor, or the Legion of Merit medal from the payment of a parking fee collected through a parking meter charged by a governmental authority other than a branch of the federal government, when the vehicle is being operated by or for the transportation of the person who registered the vehicle under the law pertaining to such plates.

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

On passage, or, if the act does not receive the necessary vote, the act takes effect September 1, 2009.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 618 differs from the original by including recipients of the Legion of Merit medal among the veterans exempt from payment of a parking fee collected through a parking meter charged by a governmental authority other than a branch of the federal government, under certain conditions.